Virginia passes Equal Rights Amendment

Both chambers of the Virginia state legislature passed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Wednesday, becoming the 38th state to pass the resolution.

The amendment’s passage in Virginia crosses the threshold necessary for it to be included in the U.S. Constitution and sets the stage all 38 states to call for a historic constitutional convention.

“As we enter this new, more inclusive, diverse, and accountable government that mirrors the values of today's Virginians, it is important that our actions reflect those ideals,” said state House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D). “After nearly 100 years of working to put equality into the Constitution, a document that lays out our nation's most fundamental rights and laws, we are taking the historic step to make ratification a reality. Finally, women will be represented in the Constitution.”